Tank-heater



Units STATES ANDREW J. UPHAM, OF SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS.

TAN K-H EATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,462, date-3. August7, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. UPHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sycamore, in the county of De Kalb and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tank-Heaters; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked there on, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to certain im provements in tank-heaters; andit consists, essentially, in a fire-chamber so situated as to beprojected within the water, and of means for providing ready access tothe furnace, and at the same time increasing the radiating-surface ofthe heater.

My invention is designed to be nearly wholly submerged in the tank ofwater, and is more especially adapted for use in connection with tanksemployed to hold water for stock. The use of wind-pumps for raising andfurnishing water to stock has necessitated the adoption of large tanksto hold water in reserve, the pumping not being continuous. During thewintermonths, and particularly in very cold Weather in the northern andnorthwestern States, unless some provision be made against the freezingof the water the latter will become solid ice, which not only preventsthe use of the tank for the purpose intended, but will cause the pumpedwater to run off and be lost, and sometimes, by the congelation, thetank is destroyed.

It has also come to be an accepted fact that in extreme cold weathervery cold water is in- 0 jurious to stock, even if they can be induced IThere are difficulties in the situation which do not obtain in the useof ordinary heatingstoves. The fire, to properly economize the heat,must be placed below the water-line, andthe water of course excludedfrom the fire. Air must be furnished from above to the grate, and alsoaccess to portions of the fire must be afforded in order to properlyprovide and keep the necessary draft. Coal is usually employed for fuel,as requiring the least room and attention, and those familiar with themanagement of coal-fires are aware that the care of the grate and ashpanare essential for the proper control of such fires.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a heater embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is the same with the top open. Fig. 3 is across-section in the line 00 0c of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsection view thereof.

1 is an oblong chamber constructed of sheetiron, cast-iron, or othersuitable material, having a closed bottom and sides, and contains at oneend the furnace 2, and at the other the fire shield 3, inclosing thedraft and access chamber 4. A partition, 5, (see Fig. 3,) is placedabout centrally transversely across the upper portion of the interior ofthe chamber 1, leaving an opening, 6, thereunder for access to the grate7 and fire-pot 8 from the chamher 4.

On the sides of the chamber 1 and near the top of the latter aresuitably attached outwardly-extending horizontal flanges 9, whichflanges respectively are placed and rest upon the'slats suitablyfastened across and to the tank at such altitude that when the chamber 1rests with its flanges 9 on the upper surface of such slats the water inthe tank will be about the height of the lower surface of the flanges 9and nearly even with the top of chamber l.

A transverse brace, 10, is suitably fastened centrally to the top of thechamber 1. On the rear portion of the chamber 1, and over the intervalin the top thereof between the adjacent sides of the brace 10 and therear end of the chamber 1, is fitted a lid, 11, which is suitably hingedto the brace 10 and provided with the usual smoke-stack, 12, whichcommunicates at its lower end through the lid 11 with the furnacedirectly beneath. An ordinary grate, 7, and fire-potSare seatedremovably in any obvious manner within the rear end of the chamber 1 anddirectly under the lid 11. In the upper end of the fire-pot8 (see Fig.2) there is formed a central opening, 13, which communicates with thelower end of pipe 12 when lid 11 is closed, and by grasping the fire'potS in the hole 13 therein, such pot can be lifted from the chamber 1 forconvenience in starting the fire, and then replaced, or can be removedfor any other purpose.

The frontportions of the vertical walls of the chamber 1 form a shield,3, which excludes the water in the tank from the furnace-chamber 2.Vithin the shield 3 and between it and the partition 5 is provided achamber, 4, through which ready access is afforded to the fire pot 8 andgrate 7 under the lower edge of the partition 5 for the purpose ofremoving the ashes and clinkers, thus affording draft to the lowerportion of said grate and firepot. A lid, 11, is suitably hinged to thebrace 10 at the side thereof opposite to the hinged connection theretoof lid 11. The lid 14 is adapted to close the top of the acccsschamber4. In the lid 14: is formed an air-cntrance,15, and the admission of airtherein is governed bya sliding plate or cut-off, 16, pivoted on theupper surface of the lid 11 and adapted to adjustably cover the opening15 and to regulate the size of said opening, as may be desired.

In the advantages of my invention the shield 3 not only provides asealed accessehamber 4, but also increases the radiatingsurface of thedevice. Hot coals and ashes can be drawn from the fire-pot 8 out intothe bottom of the access-chamber 4 and there allowed to remain until theheat therein has been utilized in heating the surrounding water. Theready access to the fire-pot 8 through the chamber 4 renders itunnecessary to take out the fire-pot for the purpose of removing saidashes and elinkers and other refuse at the bottom thereof, whichotherwise unremoved would choke out the fire, and as the fire can bereadily started in the pot 8 while in place, the heater can bepermanently fastened in the tank.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

lhe water or liquid heater, consisting of a chamber provided with agrate and a removable firc-pot resting thereon, said fire-pot beingprovided with an opening in its top, a hinged cover and a smoke-pipeattached thereto, said pipe being adapted to restin the opening in thetop of the lire-pot when the cover is in a closed position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW J. UPHAM.

W'itnesses:

Jenn G. MANAHAN, ADDA WARD.

